Has progress really been that great in SA?

The results for the 2011 Census have been released and government has warmly welcomed the report. President Jacob Zuma has even gone so far as to say “It is evident from the Census 2011 results that great strides have been made in improving the lives of many South Africans."

Amongst other statistics it was reported that the proportion of people who completed higher education has increased from 7.1 percent in 1996 to 12.3 percent in 2011.

While much progress has been made in providing basic services to South Africans and in other areas of society is the president’s remark that “great strides” have been made a fair one when examining the progress of access to education?

Zuma later admitted that “much remained to be done to further improve the livelihoods of people especially in terms of significant disparities that still exist between the rich and poor.”

However his sweeping comment about vastly improving lives begs the question; Are our assessments of progress and transformation in this country honest, informed and balanced?

Replies to This Discussion

Education is only a small part of the issue. Education may make you more skilled and more employable but it doesn't give you a job! That is a huge invention perpetuated by a desperate government. It's probably the biggest lie in most countries of the world.

The fact is that more people being born need to be employed in due course and the jobs will never be there. If the promise of jobs is to be fulfilled, then in South Africa we would need to create at least twice the number of jobs already in existence within the next 5 years....how is this even remotely possible?

The growth in population is a major problem. I'd like to know the number of unmarried mothers with kids born over the last 10 years or since the last census.

I hear what you are saying about the lack of job opportunities even for those with an education, in fact i spent many months seeking employment despite my education and experience. But i still feel that education is a very big part of the issue. In my understanding education not only refers to the academic value we receive, but i believe an educated person is more likely to make better decisions for themselves and future generations than one who is not. If we can equip people properly we can empower them to create jobs rather than wait for a job to be created for them. You are absolutely right! an education does not secure employment. but perhaps we should change our thinking about what an education is for and start sending out the right messages to our young people as well.